Garage & Tools Tips & Tricks...

[mxvet57]

Stuck brake rotor bolts? get an old hex wrench and the welder.

[Andrew]

Strangely amazing just what you can take apart with a welder

[Mr.Black]

Tire changer info;

 https://picasaweb.google.com/SE.HSTASE.Region/HarborFreightTireBalancer#5183130105228133106

[Drif10]

We all are familiar with how useful wd40 is in helping to degrease a bike, like getting off chain lube.

Here's another use for ya:

I use it to lube the tire beads when I'm mounting it on a rim. Makes it slide on easy as you please, really helps to keep you from pinching a tube, and the biggest advantage:

When it dries, it makes the rubber tacky, kind of like the old tire tube trick mentioned earlier. Why is this such a good thing? Well, it makes the tire seal better on the rim, which is nice, but the big one is that it really makes it bond to the rim, eliminating the need for a rim lock.

Here in the east, it works just great as a rim lock, haven't used one for years, regardless of tire or bike. If I was out west, where all the rocks are sharp edged as opposed to rounded, I might go back to using one, only after I had a failure without one.

[mxvet57]

Problem bending over those locking tabs on things like the clutch basket nut. I use a seal pulling tool.

[darkstarmoto]

Don't throw out that old baking sheet or cooking pot from the kitchen.

They make excllent trays to disassemble stuff in to catch little parts falling off and to keep fasteners from wandering off the edge of the workbench as you keep working.

And they make nice durable parts cleaning containers. I keep several shapes & sizes handy along with a huge collection of cleaning brushes. Lots less wasted solvent.

And on that note....cupcake tins are awesome for keeping small parts organized. You can label each pocket with a sharpie while your taking parts off. Then after everything goes back where it belongs you just hit it with some brake cleaner or what have you and the marker comes off and the pan is clean and ready for the next job.

[mxvet57]

When pulling the cam shaft zip tie the chain to the cam gear. Don't have to worry about retiming the cams.

[Cablebandit]

Are you just tipping the cam up to get the bucket out?

[mxvet57]

Are you just tipping the cam up to get the bucket out?

Yep

[bomber]

When pulling the cam shaft zip tie the chain to the cam gear. Don't have to worry about retiming the cams.

Now THAT is a great idea! Thanks!

[Cablebandit]

Sweet.  So your cam chain tensioner takes up that much slack?  When I did the Wee valves I didn't have enough chain to lift them out that way.

It's an awesome idea BTW.

[mxvet57]

Sweet.  So your cam chain tensioner takes up that much slack?  

Removed that to.

[Cablebandit]

I figured you did. I did as well when I did mine. Problem is there wasn't enough slack to pull it up like on your pic. I'll try again on the next bike.

[scotteroni]

Here's a tip. Put a lock on your tool box the day your son is born. It won't be long until your finding your one of kind german made tool getting rusty buried somewhere in the backyard.  

But seriously, here are some tips i've discovered.

Put colored pin striping tape around your tool handles to easily identify then when someone else borrows them.

Soak brake parts in hot soapy water after degreasing to remove the old brake fluid stuff out. rinse with clear water and blow out with compressed air.

When bleeding brakes never pump the levers quickly and all the way to the grips. It introduces air back into the system. Pump slowly and leave a space of at least 3/8 between lever and grip.

To remove a brake piston stuck in the caliper soak the caliper in very hot water for a few minutes, get a can of compressed air turn it upside down and spray the super cold propellant into the hollow of the piston for a few seconds and the piston should slid out easier with a pair of pliers and rag.

Balled up aluminum foil with spit on it cleans rust off chrome.

Cheap suave brand shampoo works as well as more expensive hand cleaner.

Bread wire tires stripped of the paper are great emergency carburetor jet cleaners.

Quick way to check which plug isn't firing right by putting water in spray bottle and spraying each header. see which one doesnt vaporize water as quickly or at all.

If your bike runs smoother with the air filter out your bike is running rich.

Keep a headband flashlight in your tool kit. It comes in handy if you get stuck by the side of the road at night and gives you two hands free to make necessary repairs. It also lets makes you more visible to other traffic as you move your head around.

Startron brand  fuel stabilizer is 99% naptha. You can get Naptha at any hardware store for a lot cheaper.

You can bring back faded black plastic on handlebar controls by wiping on petroleum jelly,letting it sit overnight wiping it off and buffing with a rag.

This is all i can think of for the moment.

[mxvet57]

Have a tight space that you need to get a bolt started? This is what i did to get the bolt started for the plug on the cam chain tensioner.

Get one of these springy things.


Next i fished it through the access hole.


Put a small amount of dielectric compound on the end and stuck the bolt in it.




Got the bolt started and now can get the wrench on it.

[davenay67]

Cheap suave brand shampoo works as well as more expensive hand cleaner.

Bread wire tires stripped of the paper are great emergency carburetor jet cleaners.

Lava hand soap is awesome and runs about $1.50 for 2 bars.

Guitar string also work fantastic. If you play guitar, new strings are always too long. Snip a few inches off each string and you have a set of different sizes.

[davenay67]

Scratched or hazed plastic headlight lens, etc.? Use regular white Colgate toothpaste to buff out the plastic lens. It's cheaper than buying dedicated plastic lens polish, leaves your plastic parts minty fresh, and does double duty by helping to maintain your periodontal health.

And if your headlights are REALLY hazy or yellow, use various grades of sandpaper first. Start with 200 and step all the way to the final finish of 2000 grit. Then use a lens polish or toothpaste.

[JonS]

When pulling the cam shaft zip tie the chain to the cam gear. Don't have to worry about retiming the cams.

Great idea!

This is the best epoxy I have ever used. I asked a guy at the hardware store, which epoxy to buy and this is what he recommended and he was right. J&B Kwik